Public Utility Enterprises In Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of Poland

In the process of changes, consisting in a departure from an economy of surplus towards a sustainable economy, combining economic, social and environmental interests, enterprises play an important role, and public utility companies play an important role in urban areas. The specific type of their activities related to municipal management, and especially waste management, water and sewage management and local public transport, has a direct impact on the conditions and quality of life of the local community. Public utility companies, although they achieve worse financial results than private entities, implement social and environmental (ecological) goals to a greater extent than the latter, in line with the concept of sustainable urban development.